Preparing moss for upholstery



,, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. SARTWELL, OF MAQUOKETA, IOWA.

PREPARING MOSS FOR UPHOLSTERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,106, dated August 10, 1880.

To all whom rt may concern.

Be it known that I, GHARLEs M. SARTWELL, of Maquoketa, in the county of Jackson and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Preparing Moss for Upholstery, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to remove the bark or exterior coating of moss, or What is known as vegetable hair, by such means as will not soften or destroy the clasticity of fiber to be used.

The nature of the invention consists of subjecting the native moss to a hot-water solution of protoxide of calcium, (lime-water.)

The process is .as follows: I put in a suitable vat or receptacle such an amount of native moss as can be conveniently handled, and then pour thereon asolllti .19 Baum) in sufficient quantity to cover the moss. The lime should be fresh slaked, so as to possess its full strength; otherwise a greater quantity should be used. The solution should be brought to nearly a boiling heat by steam or other means to facilitate the removal of the bark from the hair fiber.

Cool or cold liquor may be employed; but it will require much more time to remove the bark, and the fiber will not be so thoroughly (No model.)

ingredients have been used in the preparation of moss; but as all clear alkalies and caustic sodas soften the hair fiber of the moss, I confine myself to the use of protoxide of calcium as possessing properties which will remove the bark from the moss without injury to the fiber. V

The strength of the solution given is found to answer thepurpose; but asolution of greater or less strength may be employed, the rule being the greater the strength the sooner the bark will be dissolved.

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent The treatment of moss by subjecting it to a solution of protoXide of calcium, (lime,) as specified.

' I CHARLES M. SARTWELL. Witnesses:

CHAS. A. FELLOWS, S. B. DUNHAM. 

